Judge denies Flint mayoral candidate's bid to get on ballot

Flint remains without any candidates on the ballot for the Aug. 4 primary after a judge ruled against a City Council member's request to get his name onto it.

State election officials say that City Clerk Inez Brown mistakenly told candidates their nominating petitions with at least 900 valid signatures were due April 28. The actual deadline was April 21.

The Michigan Legislature is considering a measure to allow the filing deadline to be extended.

On Monday, Genesee County Circuit Judge Archie Hayman dismissed Eric Mays's lawsuit seeking to get on the ballot. Mays was the only candidate who filed in time, but election officials say he had too few valid signatures.

You don’t normally hear a mayoral candidate threatening to literally eat one of his political rivals on election night. But Flint’s mayor’s race this year is hardly normal.

“I will try to feast on that pig at my victory party. He’ll be invited VIP,” joked city councilman and mayoral candidate Wantwaz Davis.

Flint attorney Mike Ewing says he decided to launch a write-in campaign to elect “Giggles the Pig” after a screw-up in the Flint city clerk’s office meant all mayoral candidates missed the filing deadline.